ZXir QLive Alive

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swisPlisssissSi

MEMORY MAP

ADDRESS

2
3

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4

ROUTINES

Information and Chairmen — Trea$ury Note$

Input/Output — by Abed Kahale

LarKen DOS

ZX-TEAM

MSCRIPT

TS-2068 Disk Drives

address Files

6 TS-2068 Monitor Adapter
E-Mail List
Making Cassette Tapes
Z88 Source Book - 2
Unclassified Ads

IT IS THE

T© BLNEW

YOUR
MBLHSIIIP

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ZXir QLive Alive! ©
Established 1991 The Timex/Sinclair NorthAmerican User Groups Newsletter

T/SNUG Information

We wish to support the following platforms:

ZX-80/8L TS-1000, Spectrum, TS-2068,
Z88 and QL. If you have any questions about
any of these fine Sinclairs. contact the:

Chairman

Chief Motivator
Donald S. Lambert
738 GunnarLn.
Forsyth, IL 62535
(217) 875-8043
dslambert@email.msn.com

Vice-Chairmen

Tape & JLO PD Library

Luke Perry
3409 NE 62nd Ave. #187
Vancouver, WA 98661

Library

Dave Bennett (HATSUG)
1275 Timber View Dr.
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055-9146
717 732-4374
dave975@att.net

QL Hacker's Journal

Timothy Swenson
2455 Medallion Dr.
Union City, CA 94587-1914

Rod Humphreys (VSUG)
10984 Collins PI.
Delta, BC V4C 7E6 Canada
604 583-2819

QL PD Library

John Donaldson (CATUG)
835 Foxwood Cir.
Geneva, EL 60134-1631
630 232-6147
goodolejolm@avenevv.com

AERCO & Z80 Emulator
Keith Watson
41634 AmberlyDr.
Mt. Clemens, MI 48038

--—GATOR—--

Bob Swoger (CATUG)
613 Parkside Cir.
Streamwood, EL 60107-1647
630 837-7957 Work 847 576-8068
cengl08@email.mot.com

ZXir QLive Alive!

Is the newsletter of T/SNUG, the Timex/Sinclair North American
User Groups, providing news and software support to the T/S
community inaVOLUME of four newsletters per year;
beginning with the Spring (March) issue.

T/SNUG's main goal is to preserve and encourage
the use of Sinclair computers by providing an open
forum for the exchange of knowledge, building and
maintaining of software libraries. Providing vendors,
repai r service and members with free ad space.

It is the user groups and individual subscribers, rather than the
vendors, that provide the pecuniary support for this newsletter.
Vendors and developers receive this newsletter free of charge,
though contribution from vendors and user groups is gratefully
accepted. Please support our vendors and service providers

whenever possible.
If you have a problem or you have solved a problem, please share

it with the rest of us. No problem wi ll be

Y

ou can keep T/SNUG alive by an annual contribution of $14
for one VOLUME made payable to Abed Kahale.

Send check to:-

ABED KAHALE
432 WEST OAKS TRL
WOODSTOCK GA 30188-7358
Back copies are available for $1.50 each postpaid.

■mm

_fe£L- - * — — __

Send in your articles and inputs by disk, hardcopy mail, or e-mail

to.-
Abed Kahale

E-maiL ^^^^^^^^^^fj^ M |

http://users.aol.aDm/cIubbbs/tsnug/
http://www.outlawnet.cx5m/-jboatno4

q l-users@nvg . rttnu . no

As of December 30, 2001, we have a balance of $377

ZXir QLive Alive!

Winter 2001

Input/Output

Dear Mr. Stegman, <danesteg@juno.com>

My Dad, Fred Henn, passed away
peacefully at home yesterday afternoon
(10/27). I am trying to go through his emails
and let people know. I'm not sure how much
contact he made with some people.

If there is anyone you can think of that this
message should be passed along to please
feel free to do so or let me know and I can take
care of it.

I will be checking my Dad's e-mail for the
next few days and when I get back to Buffalo
on the weekends.

Kathy Freeman

Abed,

This is Dean on the Astro software issue. Thanks a
lot ! ! I received a number of responses and programs
for my TS following the Inpu/Output you wrote.

I received a couple of GREAT astrological
programs for my TS-2068, Thanks again !!

Dean Mikolajczyk

DeanM9 7493@aol.com

Hi Abed,

Thanks for your mail. Don't worry, be happy!!! It
will not be the last Magazine! !

Joachim (Merkl of Schultz Electronics) who did all
the work for more than 10 years, does not want to
continue editing the Magazine, because of too few
support by the ZX-TEAM members. But his
announcement had a lot of feedback and some others will
continue to publish a ZX81 related Magazine. We will
have our 6th meeting from 15 to 17 of march, 2002 and
there we will have a discussion about who and how.

We don't have 84 members in 2001 and even if
several people have left the ZX-TEAM each year, we
always could find some new members.

The problem we have is, that only five or six from
the hard core and another five or six support us. Most of
all others seem to be more than inactive. Good hy(t)e
Peter Liebert-Adelt

P .Liebert@t-o nline.de

Mr. Kaliale

I have been looking for a copy of MSCREPT V5.5
on tape. I have it on 3.5 disk but I don't have a disk
system with a 3.5 disk drive on it... I got the software
from Jack Dohany, and after I received the software I
never got around to getting a disk drive system that
would work with the 3.5. I do have a JLO system but I
can't get it to boot up it worked a long time ago but I
don't know what is wrong. Also who do I get in contact

ZXir QLive Alive!

with about software for the TS-2068? 1 thank you for
sending me the information about the TS-2068 but for
some reason man in Tenn. and I can't seem to get
together on the equipment I would like to get a second
one as a back up. I have tried to contact Jack Boatwright
but with out any results I don't know if he is still in the
T/S business or not I think he has bought out most of the
big places that has gone out, such as Update Magazine. I
will send you another e-mail and maybe you can help me
out with some of the things I am looking for or put me in
touch with some one who has what T want. Thank you
for taking the time to read this and I will be mankful for
any help you can give me.

Robert C Webster

rwebsl@netzero.net

Hello Abed

Thanks for the info on the JLO I will e-mail Luke
now. I am getting ready for winter but right now it is
really we are having a lot of beautiful weather and I am
spending most of my day outside working on my yard
and house but I know it will get cold and I want
something to do so I have decided to put all of my Timex
Sinclair computer equipment together and see if I can
still use it... once again thanks for your help.
Robert Webster

Hello Abed...

I have nothing this time around. I am interested in
working on the

LarKen DOS

Manual for the TS-1000 and the earlier version of the
LarKen DOS Manual for the TS-2068. The biggest
problem is still the diagrams.

Most of the diagrams in the original manuals are so
crude or so degraded that they are not worthy to be put
into a new manual. Perhaps someone in the group could
lend me a hand with this? And yes, I have asked Larry
Kenny himself — several times — if he could send me
the originals of the diagrams but he never seems to get
around to it — and I doubt that he ever will.

Take care. Write you again sometime soon.
David Solly
k_dav i d_solly@Jiotm a il.com

Hello Abed"~

Thanks for the reply and if you do come across it
let me know. Who handles the JLO software library?
Do you know who I would contact about TS-1000
hardware and software?

I got my first TS-1000 in 1984, but like most I got
into computers and as things went mad with faster and
faster. I got caught in the middle and slowly drifted away
from the Timex but still hung on to the ones I had and
now that I know longer work in the computer field I want
to return to what I really enjoyed and that is the Timex.

My plans is to learn how to program the TS-1000

________

and the TS-2068 I never learned how to program, only
the hardware end of computers so I guess I am working
my way through the back door

I know from reading some of the books I have
picked up I missed out on a lot of the tilings 1 wanted for
my TS-1000.

Well thanks for your help and I will keep in contact.

Robert Webster

r websl @netzero.net

6 th international meeting

for users of

#tnriatr 236-30, and
Timex ©^-11100, S»~15O0

From 15 th to 17 th of March 2002 German
f IAM invites you to attend our 6 th annual meeting
near the town of Fulda in the heart of Germany.

Please read ZQA! Vol. 11 No. 1 and 2 for
more details about our fifth "jubilee" meeting in
Spring 2001 . Glen Goodwin from Orlando, Florida
was our guest and we all hope he will be here again
in March 2002. (You will find his review on
www.zx81.de as well)

XE-fSABfl is the worlds only known active
ZX81 users group (I would be more than happy, if I
would be wrong with this). EM HAM was founded
in Summer of 1991 and we publish a bimonthly
magazine, the S^fSAfifrBgAiAXIBI.

In 2001 we had 84 subscribers. Unfortunately
for you, our magazine is written in German
language, but you can find some short translations
on our web-site: http://www.zx81.de

This winter we will have some changes in
organization, because Joachim, who has been our
editor for more than 10 years and more than 60
magazines, will hand over this job to Kai and Peter.

3£*nABfl members have developed a lot of
new hard and software for the black wedge like
floppy and hard disk, megabyte(s) of memory;
mailbox and robot-control, LCD-screen and
"handheld-ZX", ULA replacement by MACH-GAL
or FPGA: serial/parallel, analog/digital I/O.

Though we are a German group, we do have
some international members Glen and Abed from
the USA, Gunter from Spain, Istvan from Hungary,
Eduardo from Mexico and Leo from the
Netherlands. And we are always very happy, if
someone will send articles about his doings with Sir
Clive's masterpiece, even in English.

If you are a keen ZX81 user, 3SE-7SAB8 is a
must for you. We will help you to understand our
articles. You will only have to be active, ask and we
will try to support you and your Zeddy.

If you think, it wont be worth to buy a ticket

ZXir QLive Alive!

for the flight to Germany, please ask Glen or attend
the "virtual reality". We wall install a w eb cam and
a chat on the meetings weekend Friday 15 th and
Saturday 16 th of March 2002 from about 21 .00 until
23.00 GMT (or even longer, if you "force" us with
your questions ;-))

I hope to see you, until then a Merry ZXmas
and a Happy New Year for you and your families.
Good by(t)e, "Sinclairly" yours,

Peter Liebert-Adelt
peter@zx81.de
http://www.2x8 1 .de

MSCRIPT

Dear Donald,

Thanks for all the information. I'm not much of
a hardware nut unless it's fairly simple. The reason
most people have trouble setting the print graphics
is because Off the poor MSCRIPT is my preferred
W/P. Both are a little overpowering at first because
there's so much material to understand. The only
way to use them is to use them, and learn by your
mistakes. But Tasword is the easier of the two to
use. one nice feature of Tasword is the "window"
which lets you see your work in large characters.
This helps eliminate typos.

The reason most people have trouble setting
the print graphics is because of the poor
instructions. The TS2068 has the graphic characters
needed to choose up to 8 different print commands.
To alter the graphics for your printer do the
following:

1. After loading program hit S/S and STOP.

2. Choose 'g* from menu. This brings you to the
Graphics menus. Then you're supposed to ENTER
the codes vou want. From Line 128 to 143.

3. Let's start with 143. Type 143 then ENTER.
You will see 143 with a black square next to it.
Let's say we will use this for Proportional
Spacing. You look up the printing codes for your
printer to see how this mode is turned on. My
printer uses 27 1 12 1 (to turn on) and 27 112 0 (to
turn it off).

4. let's start with 143. Type in 143 then ENTER.
You will see 143 with a black square next to it.
Let's sav. . ..proportional Spacing. You look up
the printing codes for your printer to see how this
mode is turned

5. You then type 27 then ENTER

6. Then type 112 then ENTER

7. Then type I then ENTER

8. You will now see line 143 with the black square
and the numbers 27 1 12 1.

9. Look at line 128. There should be nothing next
to it. This the invisible square.

4 Winter 2001

10. Type 27 ENTER

11. Type 112 ENTER

12. Type 0 ENTER

13. Now you will see a blank next to line 128with
the numbers 27 112 0. This is the turn off code.

14. To make things simple, use CAP/S + the
symbol in the Graphics mode to turn things on,
just the symbol in the Graphics mode to turn
things off.

15. You must type the symbol right before the text
you wish to manipulate. No spaces allowed. When
you wish to turn off a particular modes type the
turn-off symbol right after the last text bit.

I hope this helps you out. It took me quite a
while to figure it out. The instructions are
worthless. Best wishes,

Dr. Armand Drucker
194^4 67* Ave
Fresh Meadows N.Y. 1 1365

TO-3MMMII Disk ilrivos

Dear Donald,

So there is someone else who uses the AERCO
system on a TS-1000! I have had mine since they
were offered way back when. As you stated, the
interface board was $179 and DSDD drives were
$189 each (I have two), and the power supply and
cables was $69- I bought them in May 1983. Since
I am an electronics technician, I started with what
AERCO sold me, and housed and adjusted the
system to suit myself This included reworking the
power supply into a case, and beefing it up a bit,
then adding 12 volt battery backup via a deep
discharge 12 volt marine battery I bought surplus. I
then placed the interface board in a case to keep the
dust off and make it more durable.

Opening up the interface case, I find the
HN462716G (a 2716 EPROM), to not be marked.
However, the papers that came with it say it is
EPROM version W.7A. The board is an FD-ZX,
version 3. I also have the AERCO CP-ZX parallel
printer/auto disk boot assembly (EPROM version
2.2), board version 5.

The drives are Pertec FD-250, full height, 48
TPI, 70 tracks, with a 25 msec, track-to-track seek
time. I have the booklet in front of me now. The
drive holds 16k program chunks, a maximum of 16
"pages" per disk. (I remember talking to Jerry at
AERCO several times, the first, for him to tell me
the drives were 35 tracks and hold 320k). Usually
the first "program" on the disk is a "boot" or easy
loader program. I have sent you the original boot
disk for you to keep— the "boot" you get is what I
place on each formatted disk; this program jumps
you to the 15 useable program storage pages

available.

ZXirQLive Alive!

I have established a procedure of always
writing to the disk in increasing numbers (2 to 16),
and never over-writing something already on the
disk. I use format to clear the full disks I want to
reuse. I also keep a log of disk uses which I record
the date, program name, source (what disk did it
come from-a sort of "backup"
system), and the destination of the current program
save operation. In the sleeve, I keep a slip of paper
with the location on the disk, and the name of the
program, and any notes I need.

When I reformat a disk for reuse, I go back
thru the log book and draw a single line thru all the
entries to the disk reformatted. This way I know
that that copy no longer exists.

The auto boot board is real handy. Prior to
power up, I place a disk in the active drive (I only
keep one connected at a time, and use the other as
"spare" when needed). Upon power up, the board
loads "page 1 " of the disk into memory. From there,
I can load the page I want to use. This also works (I
tnink I remember) when using disks set up for 64k.
The formatting for 64K is the same as 16K, but you
only can save six 64k programs per disk.

The disk copy function is utilized by placing
the master disk (to be copied) in drive B, a blank
formatted disk in A, and RAND USR 13760.

RAND USR 12865 initialize in double density,
RAND USR 12860 for single density.

RAND USR 12721 thru 12736 are the save
addresses. 12721 writes 16K to the disk on page 1;
12736 writes to page 16. (for 16K only)

The AERCO page says the disk system uses 2
bytes in the BASIC system, namely 16507 and
16508. These are altered when a tape load has
occurred, and must be restored to use the disk.
RAND USR 12865 takes care of this. In fact, this is
how I save programs from within the program:
9900 RAND USR 12865
9910 PAUSE 60

9920 RAND USR 12722 (for example to page 2)
9930 GOTO 1 (or RUN) (to auto ran the
program upon loading next time)
I have modified the system as follows: board
select/deselect (So a non-volatile-memory board
can use that space {"Hunter" board} Typically at
8192-10240 ).

If you can find the magazine SYNC Volume 3
issue #6 (Nov/Dec 83), on page 90 you will find a
review of the AERCO system. I have that and let
me know if you would like a photocopy.

I did have a problem at one time with the drive
electronics. As I recall, a run was burned up on the
bottom of the drive (it would not boot). I also seem
to remember it to be near a pull-up IC, but I don't

^"Winter 2001

remember why this happened. I have also
experienced the slow response of the drive,
especially now, since the system rarely gets turned
on. I still have it out on a computer desk ready to
run (I mostly use it for WORD* now for letter
writing {but today I am using Word Perfect on my
XT}, and I was doing some machine code work for
quite a while. Later I'll tell you about the EPROM
boards I made and custom loaded some utilities
(like create a 1 REM with 2048 characters (or any
size really), delete to end of program, RAM space
left, etc.).

You might want to contact the following
person also:

Burke Mawby
Box 49

Matawan, NJ 07747

He wrote me about starting a national AERCO
USR group. The only date I see on the letter was
April 1984) when he got my name from AERCO
for leads for members. At the time, I failed to
respond, never expecting a rather limited existence
of the TIMEX systems. So much for foresight!

Hope this is helpful, write me again and I'll tell
you more of what I do and my work with the Z80
andTHMIDC^

when you ask. If you like, assemble a list of
questions, and I'll answer on separate paper to keep
a running dialogue going . I will call them this week
end and leave a message about your efforts with
your name and address. Remember Pete Fisher???
He calls there sometimes. Most users now are Z88
and 2040 color machine. Herb Bowers lives about
15 minutes from here and we used to have TIMEX
meetings, until he went IBM because of work-he
wTote Wheel o Fortune with Banna Brite and his
more famous Tax Programs.

David Hartman
2 Gillis Road

Portsmouth, VA 23702-2214

I still have the Sinclair system
which I would like to find a home.

Bob Vander Wiede

yanderw iedeffiyahoo. com

Abed, do you have any idea where I can find a
Daisywheel Printer wheel for a Sanyo Daisy Wheel
Printer model PR3000. IVe been looking on the net with
no luck. Thank You!

Dane Stegman

dane@buffiiet.net

Another Color Monitor Adapter

Les Cottrell

I have used several different color monitor adapters
and I have never seen this one in our magazine. It allows
the use of CGA monitors with either negative or positive
sync. I have some of each, so by putting a switch in the
vertical and horizontal circuits I can use the same adapter
with different style monitors. The integrated circuit chip
is a 74LS04. The Zebra Timex disc system twister board
has a spaces on board for IC and a monitor jack. It has all
the signals already on the board in this area, so it was
easy to add one.

Parts are:-
IC 74LS04
Transistor 2N3906
CI 47uatl6V C2 .001
C3 marked 1 Z SYS 1
Rl 33K

R2 15K R3 330ohm
R4 330 ohm

If anyone is interested in building one and needs more
detailed instructions email me at jacottrell@cfl.rr.com.

Composite
Video in [31]

[xx] indicates 2068 edge connector, bottom
<x> indicates rgb connector

R4

9

C3

t 3 !

O 1

p

Vertical Sync

HI

^

Horizontal Sync

C2

[27] red
[29] blue
[28] green

.<3>
,<5>
,<4>

.-MAIL ILl©^

Anderson, Paul

pandersn@peakpeak. com

Kaczor, Jon

jazkaczor@aol.com

Anson, Gerald

jerrya@aztec.asu.edu

Kahale, Abed

akahale@juno.com

Barker Robin

robin@di-ren. demon, co.uk

Kealy, Harriet Joan

___

hjkealv@.iionet. org

Bennett, Dave

dave975@att.net

Kenny, Larry

larkeni'S.storm.ca

Boatwright, Jack

jboatno4@outlawnet. com

Kingsley, Ed

edk4S: aol.com

Boehm, Al

boehm@ziplink.net

Knyszek, Theodore

thirteenth@worldnet.att.net

Boehm, Bill

boemn@plh. af. mil

Kondrac, Mike

mkandrac@aoi.com

Burrell, Jeff

jburrell@endocardial.com

Konig. Urs

urs.koenig@agrodata. ch

C. A. T. S.

mfD002@epfl2 .epflbalto.org

Kwitkowskl Phillip

pk\\itkow r skif^mafl.miUikin.edu

Cable, Bill

cable@cyberportal.net

Lambert, Donald

&lambertfS>em_ilmsn.com

Carpio, Juan

juanchuscarfaivahoo.com

Lancaster, Garry

dharkhig@delphi.com

Castro Antonio

castrox@portoweb. com.br

Lanciault, Francois

francois. lanciault@energies . alstom ca

Catotti. Christopher

kd4acefSlcompuserve.com

La Verne, Melvin

mlaverae@usit.net

Chambers, George

gfchamb@pathcom.com

Lebowitz, Dave

dkl@dpliv.com

Collins, Bill

bcollins@home.ifx.net

Lessenberry, Gary

gl743@aol.com

Cottrell, Les

jacottrell@cfl.rr.com

Lewis, Jim

jlewis2@neo.lnm com

Cruz-Figueroa. Jaime

cruzfiguer@aol.com

Liebert-Adelt Peter

Peter@zx81.de

Dansby., Andrew

adansby@atlantic.net

Liebert-Adelt Peter

p.hetert@t-online.de

Davis, Frank

fdavis@iquest.net

Malloy, Bob

74776.2342@compuserve.com

Delhez, Carlo

carlo@spase.nl

Matthias, Jaap

mjaap@atari-computer.de

Donaldson, John

goodolejohn@avenew. com

McBrine, William

wmcbrinefSiclark.net

Dorinson, Mark

74200.257@compuserve.com

McKelvey, William

mckelvevw@delplu.com

Dunbar, Douglas

dldunbari^prodigy.net

Merz, Jochen

jmerz@t-onhne.de

DuPuy, James

dupuy@pipeline.com

Mikolajczyk, Dean

deanni97493@aol.com

Encarnado, Joao

timex.pt@mail.telepac.pt

Miller. Sevmour

seynul@delphi. com

England, William

wengland@inaine. com

V. , . __

Mills. Frank

effem4 17fS)yahoo.com

— - i .I,,

Fegley, Ruth

qlruth@hotmail.com

-i >-.<..

Muth, Bob

bobkeeperl @aol.com

Feng, Al

alfeng@juno.com

° — **

Norton, Garv

gnorton@world.std.com

Fink. Mike

donuno.cubes@excelsior.net

.

Parrish, Gil

gil.parrish@abanet.org

Fink, Mike

domino.cubes@pointblank.com

Pashtoon, Nazir

nazir.pashtoon@ingram.micro.com

Firshman. Tony

tony@firslmian.demon.co.uk

Payne, Josh

joshpayne@bigfoot. com

Florit, Louis

florit@iimxville.com

i__

Pazinino, Jolm

jol1npa23nino@moondog.com

Franke, John

j .m.franke(®larc.nasa. gov

Perry, Luke

doidy 34@yahoo. com

Ganger, Gary

gangerg@dma.org

Perry, Russ Jr

slapdash@enteract.com

Gilbert, Robert

weena@netzero.net

Rampolla, Joe

jprampoila@blazenet.net

Gillespie, Doug

aa43 l@jcleveland.freenet.edu

Rigter, Wilf

wilf.rigter@powerteclilabs.com

Girnius, William

girnius_w@)bls.gov

Rish, John

7460 1 . 1 53 5@compuserve. com

Goodwin, Glen

glenatacme@aoI. com

Shepard, Jav

jshepard@wccta.net

Gowen, Rod

aw723@osfn.org

Simon, Thomas

73 177.333@compuserve.com

Haberly, Duncan

duncan@nulitary.com

Skapinski, Tliomas

tskapins@jimo.com

Haberly. Duncan

dimcan@military.com

Solly, David

k david_solly@hotniail.com

Harbit, Ken

krh03@cvip.fresno. com

Stegmao. Dan

£_7 -

danesteg@juno.com

Harris, Paul

plh@frsl5.f9.co.uk

_£ -mf

Swenson, Tim

swensont@lanset.com

Henderlight, Mike

mikehendi@microsoft.com

Swentko, Wally

wswentko@maroon.tc.iimn.edu

Herre, Cy

cyherrefSmino.com

Swoger. Robert

rswoger@aol.com

Holmgren, Paul

paumomi@in<iy . net

Taylor, Jeff

jetaylor@mdrobotics. ca

Horton, Will

willhort@aol.com

TEJ Computer

tej@jps.net

Hoshor, Dave

dnhoshor@jraex.com

Thoresen, Jeff

74200.257@compuserve.com

Humphreys. Rod

rodh@pacificcoast.net

Waldman, Stephen

brogine@hotmail.com

Impellizerri, John

jimpellizerri@>compuserve. com

Walterman, Don

waltermfSux.netcom.com

Jaap, Matthias

mattWas_Jaap@lms.hh.schule.de

W r atson. Keith

keitli watson@juno.com

Jonas. Mike

mjonas@bbn. com

Webster. Robert

nvebs 1 @netzero.net

Jones, Dilwyn

mlwyn.jones@dj sofmetco iik

Zimmerman, George

gzimmer928@aol.com

Jones, Terry

tjones@iname. com

ZXirQLive Alive!

7

Winter 2001

Making - Program Length Cassette Tapes

The idea started out with a cassette of programs on
a mailing list of a User's Group. You were sent
the cassette and when you got it copied (there was
supposed to be a time limit) and added a program if
you had one and sent it to the next person on the
mailing list. The theory was great but due to the
problems of various people, the tape Seldom made it
back to the User's Group. But in my case various
problems prevented me from LOADing/SAVEing
more than a few of what could have been great
programs.

My problem was complicated by the fact that the
tape recorder that got the most consistent
LQADs did not have a tape counter; so if third
program on the tape failed to LOAD the first time it
was a case of typing in the program name (if known)
and waiting through several possibly long programs
and then if it didn't LQAD you weren't sure if you
had passed that program yet. Also, once I got a
successful LOAD I would move it to a cassette with
that program on both sides so as to not have multiple
program tape hassle. But even using a 60 minute
cassette makes a lot of waste tape and you still have
to wait to wind to either the beginning or to the end
to be ready to LOAD the next time and that wasted
more time. So I muttered and fumed but I had
programs that LOADed successfully.

I was at a garage sale (I stopped to check out some
straight backed chairs), I saw a pile of cassettes
and there was no price so I asked for a lot price and
it was cheap per cassette so I had some cheap stuff
to work with. I had no idea of what to do with them
at that time- just a desire to use them for a better way
than I was currently using. Later, I was browsing in
Radio Shack and I saw a plastic gadget that could be
slipped onto a 1/2 inch piece of wood and a cassette
could be mounted on it and when you turned the
crank you could spool the tape from one spool to the
other inside the cassette but it was one turn of the
handle to one turn of the spool. I saw r a possible use
for it so I bought two plus a tape splicing kit for
cassette tape and got some small pieces of 1/2 inch
pine at the lumber yard.

I mounted the two plastic winders and the splicing
kit on the frame I made out of wood and clamped it
to a typing table and now r I could take a cassette with
doubtful tape on it and pull the tape completely and
cut it at the leader/magnetic tape splices and splice
in the good tape and crank for what I hoped would
be the proper length, cut the tape then splice it to the
other leader and have a shorter tape. It worked.

ZXir QLive Alive!

8

By Donald S. Lambert

however the splice wasn't neat in appearance and
occasionally it wanted to stick to the tape below it on
the spool and still if I guessed wrong I had a tape
that was too short or too long.
1 ogic said that if it takes 4 minutes to LOAD a
■■program then it will also take 4 minute to SAVE
it. So if I timed the LOADing of that program I
could put a blank cassette in a recorder and rim it
that long plu8 a little extra for safety cut the tape and
wind it into the finale cassette after splicing and
have a program length tape. So I would sit there
winding the hand crank while running the tape
through a bit of tape cleaning cloth to maintain a
little pressure on the tape. The system worked and
only had a few flaws - the splice would once in a
while hang up in the cassette; the tapes had leaders;
and finally the worst flaw - it was very time
consuming.

1 found that I had to anchor the ends of the cut tape
■to the cassette shell with Scottish tape to prevent
the leaders and or the tape from being lost into the
cassette. After I had four or five such accidents I
finally took a cassette apart, about half the yard sale
cassettes had screw construction and the other half
were sealed plastic. Of the two I took apart, the
spools were of different construction. One had a
notch with that looked like a tiny piece of tubing had
been stretched to insert and hold the tape in place
and the other had a plastic segment that snapped in
place, about then I discovered that the tape I was
using to SAVE on sometimes was marginal. I had
better quality tape so I tried that it was a better
SAVE. And the better tape was in a screw together
cassette. While an idea was flickering in my mind I
did a survey. I had cassettes that screwed together
from seven different manufacturers. I carefully
opened each and laid them out without mixing the
parts. Being an inspector at Collins Radio
(mechanical and sheet metal inspector) I got out my
worn retired micrometer and started measuring the
spools of the cassettes and made a chart of the
dimensions. And found the physical dimensions:
outside diameter, thickness, clearance for the central
flange of the cassette shell all were so close to the
Same that I concluded that a spool from cassette A
would work in any of the other cassette so long as
the spool with its mating segment tape retainer were
used as a pair.

So I started putting the take up spool in the supply-
tape cassette assembling the cassette again and
SAVEing the program and cutting the tape and

Winter 2001

putting the SAVEd portion of the tape in the other
cassette and reass A 6-ling the retainer to the spool
and then reassembling the cassette. But I ran into of
centering the tape on the width of the cassette spool
and also once in a while of dropping the whole
unassembled cassette on the floor and trying to find
all the pieces. But I had program length cassettes but
at the expense of frustration from the fumbling.
What I needed was a fixture to hold everything.
About this time I acquired a pair of TVS 2020
cassette recorders and built a caddy so I could use
them both at the same time went to battery power on
die SAVE machine to get reliability on the SAVEs
and I built a LOAD meter/speaker loading aid to
monitor the LOADs.

Suddenly I saw that was needed and how to build it
(see drawing). One thing that I don't have
incorporated in the design yet i8 a pair of plastic
cups to hold all the little parts until the cassettes are
reassembled. The cups could be fastened on with
double sided tape. The board has room for both the
cassette for the supply tape and the cassette being
made the dedicated program cassette and the bolt to
hold the spool that is to be fastened to the end of the
tape. The notched out space is for the bulge at the
working part of the cassette so that the edge of the
tape when it is fastened to the spool will be in the
same plane. The nut holds the spool securely so that
the plastic retainer can be snapped in _

The bolt that holds the spool securely is a 5/16 bolt.
The threads are not critical except that you have
to have a nut to fit the bolt. Take along a cassette so
that you can be sure that the bolt will go through the
sprocket holes in the spools. If the bolt is loose in
the hole use glue. I don't use a wrench on the nut,
finger tight has been tight enough.

The four wood dowels (5/16 inch diameter) that are
used to slip easily into the sprocket hole of the
spool. I inserted the dowels into the board and
marked the projection and chunked the end that was
in the board in a 3/8 inch hand drill and with the drill
running held a pad of sandpaper against the dowel
and reduced the diameter till the sprocket hole
slipped easily over the dowel. The dowels were
glued to the board when all other work was done on
the board.

I used a 1/2 inch pine board, 6 inches by 1 1 inches
long but an 8 inches by 1 1 inches long would be
better, for the base board but any wood w ould work.
I marked the spot for the depression after
temporarily inserting the dowels and putting a
cassette over the dowels and used a w^ood chisel to
cut the depression 1/8 inch deep. An alternate
construction could be to fasten an identical sized
piece of 1/4 inch plywood to the base board with

wood screws and after drilling the holes and marking
the depression cutting the depression out of the
plywood with a coping saw. If that route is taken,
you could cut two or more circular cutouts to be us
or the small parts retainer. Actual size and layout can
be modified to suit the user. I put self-sticking
cushion feet under the board to keep it from sliding
around and to clear the bolt head .
The differences between 60 minute tape and 90
minute tape is the thickness of the tape, usually the
base material is much thinner on longer play tape . I
measured the three tapes: 60 minutes is 1 mil (.001)
inches thick, the 90 minutes tape is .6 mil (.0006)
inches thick and the 120 minutes tape is .4 mil
(.0004) inches thick. And a thinner tape means it
will be more prone to stretching and stretching will
change the timing of the signals from the tape player
and that might a computer loose its place and default
the LOAD.

At this point I had best get some definitions
established before I thoroughly confuse you. Lay
a cassette down with the portion of the cassette that
has the bare tape showing facing you and we will
call that the front. The part of the cassette facing
away from you i8 the back. And with the cassette
laying with the five screws facing up i8 the top and
the opposite side facing down is the bottom. In that
position the left spool is the feed spool and the right:
spool is the take up spool. The top side is the side
that will be used to record the first side of the
program. Working that way is the only practical way
of making the backup copies without loosing your
sanity- while trying to remember which side is the
just recorded program.

■lisassembly and reassembly: With the cassette
"with the screw heads up, use a Phillips head
screw-driver to remove the screws (my screwdriver is
magnetic enough to pick up the screws out and
doesn't seem to erase the tape). With all the screws
out, I usually have the cassette in my hand, gently
try to separate the two halves at the tape opening and
when it separates and you can lift the top off of the
bottom shell half and with the tape opening facing
you rotate the top half away from you 80 that it is
upside down and lay it down. If the lubricated paper
didn't lift off with the top half lift it off with
tweezers and rotate it the same way and lay it on the
open top half. Now set the cassette on the board with
the dowels going through the spools. On the first
few cassettes eye the way the tape is routed till you
have it firmly in mind. Reassembly is the reverse
except that before you put the top on you must be
sure the tape is in the proper place. An aid to
controlling the tape is to keep the tape from having
any slack in it by gently turning the supply Spool to

ZXirQLive Alive!

9

Winter 2001

take up any slack with a finger tip . When the top is
in place look to be sure the tape is still in the prop r
place and turn the take up spool a turn or two with a
finger to see if the tape is free. You will find that
static electricity will make the tape "float" away
from the cassette shell.

Now the step by step procedure: I first open up and
strip out the tape from the cassette that I am
going to put a program in. If it is tape that is no good
I lift out the take up spool and push the retainer off
to one side of the spool and lay the retainer and the
spool in that cassette's parts place and then lift the
supply tape spool out. If that is tape I am going to
discard I push on the spool while holding the tape
and if it isn't wound too tight it will push off the
spool and then you can slide the retainer off and put
the retainer and spool in the keep place and toss the
tape in the wastebasket. I place one of the spools on
the bolt and snug up the nut finger tight. I lay the
cassette to one side.

I open up the cassette that is to be the supplier of
the tape for the program and lay it in position next
to the bolt and remove the take up spool and lay it
and the retainer aside and run the tape by the spool
on the bolt and press the retainer against the tape and
into the notch for the retainer and with the end of the
retainer nearest the supply tape started first press on
the retainer till it snaps in place. Holding the tail of
the tape with tweezers cut the tape flush to the spool
with an Exacto knife and after removing the nut
place the spool in place in the ea8sette and position
the tape and lay the lubricated paper aid the top half
of the cassette in place and replace the one screw-
that is in the center of the thicker part of the other
screws do not need to be replaced now.

With your finger or a slip on eraser on a pencil
take up all the slack in the tape winding it all
onto the supply spool and put the cassette in your
recorder and set the counter to zero or us- a timer.
Get your program ready to SAVE and start the
recording and I run the tape to a count of 10 on my
T/S 2020 recorder and when it reaches a count of 10
I hit ENTER and the SAVE routine begins and I sit
ready to zero the counter just as soon as the SAVE
routine stops. When the SAVE routine stops I reset
the counter to zero and run the recorder till it has a
reading of 15 and I stop it I take the cassette out of
the recorder and cut the tape at the pressure pad area
with a pair of scissor careful not to damage the
pressure pad or the spring that holds it in place.
Open the cassette and place it in position two and
place- the first cassette in the first position and take
the just recorded tape on the spool out and turning it
over place it in the supply spool's position and put

that cassette's other spool on the bolt and fasten the
tape to it and place it in the cassette. This time when
you reassemble the cassette you will put ail the
screws in place. If one screw strips the threads and
won't hold you can leave it out or you can try to put
a tiny sliver of wood or paper in the hole or as a last
resort you could use glue Now you are ready to
record the same program on the other side of the
tape. After you have verified that both programs are
good since you have reassembled the cassette you
can remove the record tabs and label the cassette.
When you SAVE the program on the reverse side of
the cassette you don't have to watch for the end since
you already have a program length tape Don't forget
to give the beginning a count of ten to get into the
good part of the tape.

What tape do I use? Some of my often used
programs are on what were originally 90 minute
tapes quality goes there is one brand that has a lower
output on LOADing and thus more possible failure
on LOADing and also audible dropouts - and that is
Memorex db. And besides it comes in a sealed
cassette so you have to destructively open up the
cassette to remove the tape and take a chance on
damaging the tape. I have used the following and
they are good: Sony HF60, Maxel UR 90, TDK
D90, Sony LNX 90, and BASF LHEI 60 (does have
the spool that can't be reused but the output is
extremely high although I had one cassette that had a
drop out.) I try to look over the cassettes to that they
have the three important factors: screws used in
assembly, have the spool that has the plastic segment
for tape retaining and the cassette body itself is of
good quality. In purchasing cassettes for the shells to
be used to reload tape into I take along a Phillips
screw driver and have disassembled a cassette at the
counter to see the quality of the construction. Of
course I purchased the cassette first and only once
did I get static from the sales person and I just asked
her who owned the cassette? I would look to see that
the shells were not flimsy, that is where a lot of the
cheap manufacturers save money, in fact some even
had the plastic so thin that there were holes in it and
the cassette could be easily twisted and broken. Next
check to see that the spools have the removable
plastic segments that snap in and the spools look
smooth. (I have never seen bad quality in the spools)
and last look at the window where you see how
much tape is left to run. A good cassette has a solid
clear plastic window, either the cassette is molded of
clear plastic or else the window is clear and glued in
place; cheaper cassettes have no closed window and
use a clear plastic friction paper to keep out the dust
and dirt and a very few have nothing at all.

ZXir QLive Alive!

10

Winter 2001

The Z88 Source Beck

Section 2

Modem cable to connect Z88 to USR WorldPort 14.4K
Modem.

Z88 Modem

2 TxD 3

3 RxD 2

4 RTS 7

5 CTS 8

7 GND 5

8 DCD - 1

9 DTR 4

Z88 Printer

2 3

3 2

4 5

5 20

7 7

8 — - 20

9 ... 6f8

Z88 Amstrad CPC6128

2 3

3 _ 2

5 20

I

8 I

The Spectrum - Z88 pinouts below assumes the Spectrum
has an Interface 1 to provide a serial port.

Z88 Spectrum

2 3

3 _. 2

4 5

5 — 4

I

8 —|

7 7

9 9

For users of British QL's, the serial port is an RJ1 1 phone-
like port. Here are the pin outs for both SER1 and SER2
for this type of serial port.

Z8 8 SERl SER2

2
3

2
3

3
2

4 4 5

5 5 4

7 i i

Z88 Apple Super-Serial Nexus

1 i

2 3

3 2

4 5

5 _ 20

I

8 —I

7 7

9 8

THE Zm FILES

How the Z88 stores files is important to know when
transferring files from the Z88 to other computers.
This section helps in understanding how to translate
Z88 files to be used on other computers.

The Z88 has three basic file types; PipeDream,
CLI(ASCII) ; and BBC BASIC. PipeDream can store
files in plain ASCII text format but normally stores
them in a proprietary- format. BBC BASIC files are
stored in a tokenized format. There is a way to
transfer BBC BASIC files into ASCII (Z88 User
Guide P. 200). Other more specialized file types are
Diary and PrinterEd files.

The Z88 uses CR (Carriage Returns) to stand for
End-Of- Line (EOL). The QL uses LF (Line Feed),
MS-DOS uses CR/LF. Some conversion is necessary
to make these ASCII documents ready for the QL or
PC. CRtoLFexe for the QL and ADDLF.EXE and
RMCR.EXE for the PC will do the conversion. In
going from the QL to the Z88 the program
QLtoZ88 exe has an option to convert LFs to CRs so
that ASCII files can be easily sent to the Z88.

When PipeDream prints, it adds a LF to the CR
that the printer is expecting. It also adds ESCAPE
sequences that tell the printer what to do. One ESC
sequence will be at the start of the file, others may be
embedded in the document.

If you are going to transfer PipeDream
documents to be used on the other computer, it is best
to save them as ASCII documents. On the Save File
screen, there is an option to save in ASCII.

Since most other computers do not use BBC
BASIC, converting the files to ASCII is not

ZXir QLive Alive!

11

Winter 2001

necessary. But if you want the BASIC programs to
be readable on the other computer, then you have to
convert them to ASCII and store them in CLI files
(Z88 User Guide P. 200). It only takes a few steps to
make them runable on the Z88.

TRANSFERRING FILES

Files can be transferred from Z88 to Z88 via EPROMs, but
most files will be transferred via the serial port. The Z88
comes with file transfer software, but it has it's limitations.
Some people prefer to use a communications program like
Z88COMM that supports XMODEM protocol and has
error correction. PipeDream documents can be printed and
captured on a remote computer.

Files are transferred for two reasons, 1) to use the
other computer to store Z88 files on disk, 2) to import the
Z88 files for use on the other computer. If you wish to
only store Z88 files on another computer, then you need
not worn- about how to put the Z88 files into a form usable
by the other computer. If you wish to use the Z88 files on
the other computer, then you will need to change the Z88
files so that they can be used by the other computer.

Transferring files with
Import-Expert

The Z88 manual does not make big news of it, but
the Import-Export pop-up lias a protocol for transferring
files. Any files sent through Import-Export will have some
added bytes. At the beginning of a transferred file will be
ESC N filename ESC F. At the end of the file will be
ESC E. You will probably need to trim this data from the
file.

On files that have non-ASCII data, the non-ASCII
bytes are converted into a ESC B xx yy sequence. This
means that to get these files back into the Z88, they must
be imported tough Import-Export to convert them back.
In general, files transferred out of a Z88 with Import-
Export need to be transferred in with Import-Export.
Those coming out with XMODEM need to be sent in with
XMODEM.

If wishing to use a PipeDream document on another
computer, it is best to have the document as ASCII (on the
save screen) before sending it. Tliis will make importing
into another application easier.

To a QL

The QL serial ports are known for having problems at
higher baud rates. There is a HERMES chip that fixes
these problems. Without HERMES, I recommend using a
baud rate of 1200. I've also noticed that when transferring
files to disk instead of a RAM Disk, some errors creep into
the file.

On the QL enter:

COPY SER2 TO RAM1_FILE_EXT

On the Z88 do: <>X, S (for send), enter the file name
and hit ENTER. The file will be sent to the QL, with the

number of lines being displayed on the Z88. When the
prompt returns on the Z88, hit CTRL-SPACE to stop the
copy on the QL.

FllOM A (1L

On the Z88, go to the Import-Export pop-iip ; type R to
Receive, enter a file name, and then hit ENTER.
On the QL, EXEC QLtoZ88_EXE. enter a file name,
select the baud rate, and wait for the program to run.
On the Z88, you w ill see a count up of the lines as they are
transferred. When the transfer is complete, the Import-
Export Menu will return.

To a PC

Due to the difficulty of accessing the serial port via
Basic or C on a PC, I was not able to write any transfer
programs for the PC. There was one on the Z88 BBS in
California, but that BBS has been gone for a couple of
years.

Instead you can use almost any coimnumcations
software for the PC. I will use ProComm as an example.
ProComm is one of the more popular communications
programs and it has a Shareware version.

Once you have hooked up the computers via the
serial cable, start ProComm. Set it to the same baud rate
as the Z88. Set the Z88 to not use XON/XOFF.

Hit the PageDown key on the PC. ProComm will ask
for a transfer type. Hit 7 for ASCII. Enter a file name and
hit return. The PC will be waiting for the file to be sent.
On die Z88, enter Import/Export by hitting D X. Enter S
for send. Enter the file name and hit return. You should
see the text appear on the PC screen as it is being sent.
Once the file transfer is complete, hit ESC on the PC to tell
ProComm to stop the file transfer. You now have the file
on the PC.

It is advisable to ran the file through die program
ADDLF.EXE so that the file will be fully MS-DOS
compatible.

From a PC

Before sending an ASCII document to the Z88, you
should run it through the program RMLF.EXE so that the
file will be Z88 compatible.

Using ProComm as above, set the baud rate on both
computers. On the Z88 enter Import/Export with 0 X.
Enter R to receive. Enter a file name and hit return. The
Z88 will be waiting for the file.

On the PC, hit the PageUp key to do an upload. Hit
the 7 key to signify ASCII transfer. Enter the name of the
file to send. The "file will now be sent to the Z88. When
the transfer is done the Z88 should beep and be asking
what to do next. If not, hit the ESC key to tell it that the
transfer is done.

Printer Capture

One way to get a PipeDream document without saving it
as ASCII is to print it, but instead of having the Z88
hooked up to a printer, it is hooked up to a computer.
Output from the Z88 is stored on the computer.

ZXir QLive Alive!

12

Winter 2001

Fo a (1L

On the QL, type COPY SER2 TO RAM1_

FELENAMEJEXT and hit ENTER.

On the Z88, in PipeDream, hit <>PO to print.

On the QL, once the Z88 cursor is back, hit CTRL-SPACE

to slop the copy. The transfer is complete.

To a PC

Use the same procedure listed above for timisferring files
from the Z88 to the PC. Since PipeDream is sending the
file to a printer, the file will have the necessary CR and
LFs for the PC. You do not need to run it through
ADDLF.EXE.

XMODEM Transfer

To a (1L

There are a number of QL communication programs
that support XMODEM transfer. For demonstration
purposes Fll use QLterm

Once QLterm is load on the QL and Z88COMM on
the Z88, make sure both systems are using the same baud
rate. Hook up the cables and we're ready to go.
On the Z88, select R for Receive Xmodem. Enter the file
to receive, but do not hit return. On the QL, hit F3 to get
into command mode. Enter XS for XMODEM Send, enter
a file name, but do not hit return. On the Z88 hit return
and then hit return on the QL.

As each block is sent, you will see the progress on
both computers. Once the transfer is complete, QLterm
will go back to Terminal mode, and the Z88 will switch to
VT52 Terminal. On the Z88, hit the Index key and select
Z88COMM and you are back where you started.

From a (1L

On the QL, hit F3 to enter command mode. Enter
XR for XMODEM Receive, enter a file name and do not
hit return. On the Z88, hit S for send XMODEM Enter a
file name, but do not hit return. Hit return on the QL and
then hit return on the Z88. As each block is sent you will
see the progress on each computer.

On the QL, QLterm will return to Terminal mode.
The Z88 will enter the VT52 Terminal. Hit the Index key
and select Z88COMM

To a PC

Load up a communications package on the PC. As
stated above, Fll use ProComm as an example. Run
Z88COMMontheZ88.

On the Z88 enter S for Send XMODEM. Enter the
file name, but do not hit enter yet. On the PC, hit PgDn for
Download. Select 1 for XMODEM, enter the file name
and hit return. ProComm will wait for the transfer to start.
On the Z88 hit return.

Z88COMM will print the total number of blocks
needed to transfer the file and will start eoiuiting up blocks
as they are sent Once the transfer is complete,
Z88COMM will put you into the Terminal. Hit the Index

key and select BASIC to return to Z88COMM. On the PC,
ProComm will know mat the file transfer is done and
return to it's normal screen.

FttOM A PC

Load up the software on both machines as stated above.
Once in Z88COMM on the Z88, select R for Receive,
enter a file name and hit return. Z88COMM will wait for
the transfer. In ProComm on the PC, hit PgUp for Upload.
Select 1 for XMODEM, type in a file name, and hit return.
The file will now be transferred.

Once the file is transferred, Z88COMM will again put you
in the Terminal. Hit the Index key and the select BASIC
to return to Z88COMM. On the PC, ProComm will return
you to it's normal screen.

(llJIIX TO THE Z88

One user came up with a neat idea of how to transfer a text
file from Quill to the Z88. Using INSTALL_BAS, set up a
printer driver that uses preamble codes of ESC,N,ESC,F
and post-able codes of ESC,E,ESC,Z. These are
commands for the Z88 Import/Export application.

To transfer the text, enter Import/Export and select
Receive and enter a file name. Now have Quill print the
file. Once the file is printed, the post-able code will tell
the Z88 that the transfer is done.
Macintosh File Transfers

Since I do not have a Macintosh, I have to rely on the work
of others, primarily Dave Bennett.

When the Z88 first came out, it was marketed to
Macintosh owners as a portable Mac. Since Mac people
were used to being a little different it was assumed that
they would not mind a laptop that was sort of non-
standard. Cambridge sold Z88MacLink to make Z88 to
Macintosh file transfers easy. The software even comes
with file conversion, allowing text and spreadsheet files to
be shared between the Z88 and Mac.

Z88 MacLink comes on ROM and can be bought
with the Mac to Z88 cable. Once the two computers are
hooked up, all work is done on the Macintosh. The Mac
treats the Z88 file system as an additional disk drive (but a
slow one). The program works with the typical Mac look
and feel.

File conversion is between MacWrite and
PipeDream, PipeDream and Lotus WKS files (which most
Mac spreadsheets should be able to handle), and Z88 BBC
BASIC and Macintosh BBC BASIC (probably available
from England). There is a no conversion option for
straight text files or for storing Z88 files on the Mac hard
disk in native Z88 form.

File transfers between a Mac and Z88 do not need
Z88MacLink. Any communication software should do the
trick. The only advantages to Z88MacLink is it's ability to
transfer multiple files at once, and the ease of use.
There are some Public Domain Mac/Z88 programs written
by Richard Haw. All are available on GEnie or from Dave
Bennett. They are:

ZX : A Mac to Import/Export (Z88) transfer program.
Z-Image : Enables the Z88 to display Mac graphics.

ZXir QLive Alive!

13

Winter 2001

ZHyper: Enables the Z88 to interface with the Mac
HyperCard program. Dave Bennett's address is:
1275 Timber View Dr.
Mechanicsburg, PA 17050

T/S 2C6S Pile Tran§fers

Once again I have to rely on others to help fill in this area
of file transfers. Again Dave Bennett supplied
information, along with John Shepard.

There is no commercial software available to transfer
files to/from the T/S 2068 and the Z88 Both computers
will need to use some sort of coimnunications program. It
lias even been suggested to use a BBS program on the T/S
2068.

Two methods of hooking the computers up have been
suggested. The most obvious is hooking up the serial ports
on both maclunes. The problem with this is that the T/S
2068 does not come with a serial port. A serial port board
must be added. These can be bought from some Sinclair
dealers, or one can be added to a T/S 2050 modem. I have
not found any infonnation that describes the pin-outs in
making a T/S 2068-Z88 cable.

Hie other method is hook the two computers up with
two modems. A phone line is linked between die two
modems. One modem is put in ORIGINATE mode and
the other in ANSWER mode. Once they connect, anything
you type on one computer will be displayed on the other.
Now files can be transferred using the built-in file transfer
options in Z88COMM and something like MTERM on the
T/S 2068. Text files can be transferred by doing a data
capture. This is a feature of most communications
programs that store any text going to the screen, in a file.
One user reported that he could not get the two modems to
talk without first hearing a dial tone. Not wanting to alter
the two modems to fake a dial tone, he plugged a line from
each modem into a RJ-11 Y adapter and then plugged the
adapter into the wail outlet, Now each modem would get a
dial tone.

Easy CL to Z8S
Transfers

Phil Borman has written a QL program that fully
understands the Z88 Import/Export protocol. The program
allows batch send and receive of Z88 files on the QL. The
Z88 file names are imbedded into the file so that when
they are sent back, you won't need to re-enter the file
name. Because the QL can handle a variety of characters
in file names, the program can save the Z88 file to the QL
disk with a real Z88 file name (RAM:/letter.doc). The
program comes with about 6 pages of good documentation
and is included on the Z88 Source Book disk.

DOCUMENT CONVERSION

There are some commercial programs that will
convert PipeDream documents into Quill or other word
processors. PCLink, MACLink, and the other commercial
Link packages have this software. Without having this

software, the best way to use PipeDream documents with
other word processors is to use plain ASCII to get the
document from PipeDream to the other word processors.

Most word processors support the importing of
ASCII files. Some will import by line or by paragraph.
Experiment how each word processor imports text files. If
the file has extra blank lines, some word processors will
not allow you to delete these lines once the document is
imported. Each program is different.

Converting PipeDream spreadsheets to Excel or
Abacus can be a little difficult. The numeric and text data
should be able to convert, but the formulas will not. The
formulas are not compatible.

DAMS AND EPDCMS

Memory on the Z88 can be increased by adding extra
RAM cards into the slots on the front. Each of the three
slots can address up to 1 Meg of RAM. Slots 1 and 2
should be used for RAM and Slot 3 for EPROMS. Adding
RAM in Slot 3 will consume more power, thereby
reducing battery life.

There is an add-on chip that will increase the internal
memory of the Z88 from 128K to 512K. 512K is the
highest that the internal memory can be.

'Hie latest version of the ROM is 4.0. It is supposed
to fix a few nagging bugs left in version 3.0. To see what
ROM version you have, while in Index, hit the MENU key
and then the left arrow key. The version of the ROM will
be listed, along with other information about software
dates and copyrights.

Inserting a RAM or EPROM Card

1. Turn the Z88 ON and have the INDEX displayed.

2. Open the clear plastic flap covering the slots.
The Z88 will give a short beep and go blank.

3. Push the RAM pack into the slot, making sure the
writing on the front is upright

4. Close the flap. The Z88 will come back on.

To check that the card is working, type <> CARD.

Removing an EPROM Card

1. Turn the Z88 on and have the INDEX displayed.

You must not have any suspended activities which are
making use of the EPROM.

2. Open the clear plastic flap.

The Z88 will give a short beep and go blank.

3. Remove the EPROM.

4. Close the flap. The Z88 will come back oil

DO NOT REMOVE AN EPROM WHILE THE Z88 IS

TURNED OFF.

I have found that removing a RAM card is not good
for the Z88, it can cause it to crash or act very flaky. If
you are going to remove a RAM card, back up your files,
use the same procedure as removing a EPROM card, and
then do a hard reset on the Z88. It will now recognize all
of vour memory.

To be continued

ZXir QLive Alive!

14

Winter 2001

Unclassified

A ds

Place your ads here, it is FREE!

Please inform and/or update the Editor of any changes in your ad/s

We have been a part of the Sinclair scene since
1982, repairing ZX Spectrums for Sinclair Research

in England.
We provide Sales. Service, and Software for the

ifh, SS|»ecirniii, Wax-M aim m\l\

www. members, tripod . com/hes_computing/hes 1 . html

E-Mail 74601.1535@compuserve.com
Hours of Operation is Monday - Friday 1300 hrs. to 2100
hrs. central time zone,
rnone ziUfc)Dl-4o/D

Heme Electronics Service

John R. Rish

5222 Kazen Dr.
San Antonio TX 78219 USA

NEWS

New England Sinclair QL Users Group

Ed Kingsley, Editor
16 Highland Avenue
Saugus MA 01906
(781 ) 233-3671 EdK4@aol.com

ARCHIVE Based QL Software

QLerk - A complete financial program

QLerk software (v3.21 ) with tutorial $29
QLerk manual $29
QLerk software & manual $50

DBEasy - A menu based database system
DBEasy software (v1 .6) $24
DBEasy upgrade from V1 . 5 $7

DBProgs - A toolkit ot AKOHivt procedures
DBProgs software (v1 .8) $18
DBProgs upgrade from V1 .7 $7

DBTutor - A general purpose learning program
DBTutor software(v1 .5) $12

Bill Cable

Wood & Wind Computing

RR3 BOX 92
Cornish NH 03745 USA
Phone (603) 675-2218

|i|*n lliiiif *t| iilli»i^ti*iiiii#^«

m 1 VP ■PllJBiflil BJIl>m>l 1 lPIiI^i»

323 SE 28th Ave.
Portland, Oregon 97214
503-232-3200

Pro Act Consulting

2660 N. Houghton Rd.
Tucson, AZ 85749
520-749-5395, fax 520-749-3626
email <proactmd@aol.com>

The John Oliger Co.

11601 Widbey Dr.
Cumberland IN 46229
The John Oliger Floppy Disk System
FOR THE TS-2068

2068 User Cartridge
DISK BOARDS "A" & "B"
2068 Parallel Printer Port
2068/SPECTRUM Joystick Port
DFh Mapped Universal I/O Port board
User Manual only : $5.00 (Read before you buy)
joliger@mindspring. com

13 c mine tunes

Z88

Hardware & Software
352 7 th Ave. 1 5 th Fir.
New York, NY 10001
Phone 212 631-7563
Fax 212 947-5069 Voice mail pager 917 490-

8407

Domino. cubes@excelsior. net

NESQLUG

QL Hacker's Journal

ZXir QLive Alive!

15

Winter 2001

Supporting All QL Programmers

Timothy Swenson, Editor

2455 Medallion Dr.
Union City, CA 94587-1914
swensontc@geocities.com
http://www.geocities.com/SilconValiey/Pines/5865/

QLAMBer $20

QLuMSi $20

SeekQL $10

Upgrades $5

914 Rio Vista Cir SW
Albuquerque NM 87105
(505) 843-8414

M -SOFTWARE IS

Peter Liebert-Adelt
LUETZOW STR 3
D-38102 BRAUNSCHWEIG

GERMANY
Email: p.liebert@t-oniine.de
http://home.t-online. de/home/p.liebert/zx-team. htm

Amateur Radio: DK4BF@DB0FCJNDS.DEU.EU

Joclieii Mera Software

SMSQ/E for the QXL

SMSQ/E for the Super Gold Card

QL Games & Upgrades QL Applications
ProWesS + Applications
Jochen Merz Software
Im stillen Winkel 12
47169 Duisburg, Germany
© 0203-50201 1 Fax 0203-50201 2
Credit Cards accepted
http://www.j-m-s.com/smsq/
e-mail smsq@j-m-s.com

Items for the TimexVSinclair Computer

Timeworks Programming kit #1 For T/S 1000 &

ZX81 $4.95
Mindware Gulp Game Timex 1000 & Sinclair

ZX81 $4.95

Timex Horace & The Spiders for the 2068. $5.95

Chess (16K RAM) qty 5 price $2 .95 ea
MC, VISA, American Express. Phone 717-748-1747

Keith Electronics

224 North Grove St
Lock Haven, PA. 17745

QL Today is published by Jochen Merz Software. The
representative in Britain is Miracle Systems Ltd. who take
subscriptions and do the distribution.

English Office
Miracle Systems Ltd.
20 Mow Barton
Yates, Bristol, UK BS17 5NF
Editor
Dilwyn Jones
41 Bro Emrys
Tal-Y-Bont, Bangor, Gwynedd, UK LL57 3YT

Zebra Systems, Inc.

122W26 th St. Suite. 904
New York, NY 10001
Basics of Timex Sinclair 1500/1000 BASIC
BASIC Basics for the Timex/Sinclair 1500/1000
The Ins and Outs of the Timex TS-1000 & ZX-81
Computer Interfacing Technique in Science TS-

1500/1000

i .- ^.^ssaitt

inclatr Resources

Keith Watson (AERCO & Z80 Emulator)
41634 Amberly Dr.
Mt. Clemens, Ml 48038

RodGowen (RMG)
1 4784 S Quail Grove Cir
Oregon City OR 97045-8843

Surplus

mm ^hp m m> -m^mr - ^ ~ 'MM!

JOHN J SHEPARD HI
281 130 th ST
OGDEN IA 50212
< jshepard@wccta.net >
Mostly QL &TS-2068

JACK BOATWRIGHT
67325 FRYREAR RD
BEND OR 97701
< jboatno4@outlawnet.com >
Mostly ZX-81 /TS-1000 & TS-2068

Ql_ TS-2068 IX^Sf

ZXir QLive Alive!

16

Winter 2001